Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program

Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture

10.217 -- Higher Education - Institution Challenge Grants Program

Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026

Description

Projects supported by the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program will: (1) address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; (2) involve a creative or non-traditional approach toward addressing that need that can serve as a model to others; (3) encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community, as well as between universities and the private sector, to enhance program quality and supplement available resources; and (4) result in benefits that will likely transcend the project duration and USDA support.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

Other

Additional information

Applicants for the HEC must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Applications may be submitted by: (a) U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the FANH sciences; (b) land-grant colleges and universities, (including land grant institutions in the Insular Areas); (c) colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and (d) other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences.An applicant also must meet the definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as stated in this RFA (see Appendix III)

Grantor contact information

Description

NIFA Help Desk Phone: 202-401-5048 Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -5:00 pm ET, excluding Federal holidays

Email

If you have any questions related to preparing application content

electronic@nifa.usda.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
FY-2020-2021-HEC-mod-3-18-2020.pdf	Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program	Mar 19, 2020 12:09 AM UTC

Link to additional information

https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/higher-education-challenge-hec-grants-program

Archived: May 2, 2020

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$45,000,000

Program Funding

Expected awards

$30,000

Award Minimum

$750,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

USDA-NIFA-CGP-006950

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Agriculture

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

September 24, 2019

Archive date:

May 2, 2020